NRL.com Wrap | Knights progress to Semi Finals after defeating Souths

Media conference

Winging it: Dom Young and Greg Marzhew continued their outstanding seasons for the Knights with 37 runs and 411 metres between them while Young racked up his 21st try of the campaign.

Full-time: The Knights march on to week two where they will face the loser of the Warriors-Dolphins clash. With Kalyn Ponga showing the way and edge forwards Jermaine McEwen and Francis Manuleleua in damaging form, last year's wooden spooners keep the dream alive.

79 min: Another desperation pass this time from Tallis Duncan is intercepted by Sandon Smith.

78 min: There will be no miracle comeback for Souths as Matt Dufty throws a loose pass which is intercepted by Dane Gagai and the Knights veteran brings the ball out of trouble.

77 min: Razzle dazzle by Souths and Brandon Smith kicks at the end of the play with the ball ending up with Kalyn Ponga who spills it in a Cameron Murray tackle. Smith picks it up and burrows for the line but the goal post pad denies him. Souths have a full set from 5m out.

75 min: The Rabbitohs go to the left edge and Latrell Mitchell throws the final pass for Jye Gray to get outside Dom Young and scoot over for a try. Mitchell misses the conversion. Knights 20-10

74 min: Kalyn Ponga produces an athletic take off a kick and the Knights look to work out of their own end but Greg Marzhew makes an error and Souths get a late shot at points.

73 min: Tyson Frizell comes off the field and gets some ice onto a tight hamstring.

72 min: Jamie Humphreys comes reeling out of a tackle after copping a poke in the eye.

68 min: Harrison Graham with a line break and he tries to pick up Phoenix Crossland in support but the ball goes loose. The Knights use their challenge and allege Crossland was taken without the ball but they come up empty. 

66 min: The Rabbitohs are out on their feet and with Brandon Smith defending on the wing he is left clutching at thin air as Dom Young beats him cold and sets sail for the corner. Young's foot appears to graze the sideline but the bunker backs the on-field call and that's the try that seals victory for the Knights. Sandon Smith fails to convert. Knights 20-6

64 min: More drama for the Rabbitohs as Alex Johnston leaves the field with quad tightness.

62 min: The Knights go long range for a try with Kalyn Ponga and Dane Gagai combining to put Dom Young away and the winger finds Jermaine McEwen backing up on the inside. McEwen busts through a Jayden Sullivan cover tackle and slams the ball down for his second try of the night. Sandon Smith converts. Knights 16-6

60 min: Kalyn Ponga busts the Bunnies open from deep in his own territory and is dragged down 20m out. At the end of the set Harrison Graham puts in a grubber and Phoenix Crossland tries to ground the ball but he can't get it down and the Rabbitohs come away.

57 min: A piece of Latrell Mitchell magic to put Alex Johnston away down the wing. The ball is reefed out of Johnston's hands by Jermaine McEwen and Johnston toes it ahead for Jayden Sullivan to chase and 'score'. The bunker rules that McEwen was making a tackle and had not attempted to strip the ball from Johnston. It is ruled a loose carry and a knock on by Johnston. NO TRY.

56 min: The Knights keep the ball alive on the last and come up with a couple of kicks, the last one finishing up with Dane Gagai who is shut down by Alex Johnston and the Bunnies hang on.

55 min: Jye Gray's pass out of dummy half is a little low and Lachlan Hubner can't hang on. Knights get a shot from 20m out.

52 min: Another poor kick on the last tackle by Jayden Sullivan as it comes down well short of the line and Keaon Koloamatangi taps it down to a Knights player.

49 min: Sandon Smith rushes a pass to Kalyn Ponga but it is not precise and the skipper knocks it on as he has to reach back to try and catch it.

48 min: Phoenix Crossland grubbers into the legs of Matt Dufty who is ruled to have played at the ball. The referee rules Crossland knocks the ball on when it comes back to him but the Knights use a captain's challenge and come up trumps. The Knights have a full set 10m out.

46 min: Campbell Graham with an error off a high ball and the Knights have a centre field scrum 10m out.

45 min: Jayden Sullivan kicks high to the right side but it's easy meat for Greg Marzhew as the kick is too deep for the chasers. Seven-tackle set Knights.

44 min: Jamie Humphreys nudges the ball into the in-goal and Dom Young does superbly to get back and knock the ball dead with three Souths players converging. Kalyn Ponga goes short with the dropout and the Rabbitohs reload.

Special Ks: Souths got back into the game on the back of a dangerous run from Keaon Koloamatangi, who finished the half with 111 run metres and 23 tackles, while Knights superstar Kalyn Ponga had 12 runs for 159 metres and seven tackle breaks in a sensational opening term.

Half-time: The Rabbitohs have steadied after a sluggish start but the loss of Cody Walker could be a hammer blow to their hopes of progressing to week two. 

40 min: Cameron Murray elects to put in a grubber but none of his teammates expected it and Fletcher Sharpe easily takes it dead and we go to the break with the Knights ahead by four.

40 min: David Fifita gets over the line but the Knights get there in numbers to hold him up.

38 min: Phoenix Crossland with a strip in a two-man tackle and he hands the Rabbitohs a late attacking opportunity.

36 min: Keaon Koloamatangi skips to the right edge and picks up David Fifita who sends it on to Jack Wighton and out to Campbell Graham who gets down low and slides over in the corner. Latrell Mitchell nails the conversion from touch. Knights 10-6

35 min: Francis Manuleleua with a monster shot on Cameron Murray and the ball is spilt but referee Ashley Klein has blown a penalty for Manuleleua being inside the 10.

31 min: Huge drama for the Rabbitohs as Cody Walker leaves the field with what appears to be a calf injury. The veteran went to the ground with no one around him and cut a forlorn figure as he sat on the ground just outside the field of play.

29 min: Fletcher Sharpe and Campbell Graham compete for a bouncing ball just 10m out from the Souths line and Graham does enough to deny Sharpe a chance to control the ball and it goes out for a Souths scrum.

27 min: Sandon Smith goes to the boot with a well weighted grubber and Dane Gagai chases hard to beat Matt Dufty to the ball and ground it just inside the dead ball line. A brilliant chase by Gagai who is on his game tonight. Smith converts. Knights 10-0

25 min: Cody Walker goes on report for a high shot on Jermaine McEwen. The Knights put the ball into touch to start a set 20m out.

24 min: Cody Walker chips for the in-goal but it is too deep and Bradman Best defuses it easily and the Knights come away with a seven-tackle set.

21 min: More slick movement to the left by the Knights and Jack Wighton has to scramble across in cover with Jayden Sullivan to put Greg Marzhew into touch just short of the line.

18 min: Matt Dufty allows a high ball to bounce and it rolls dangerously towards the posts but Alex Johnston is there to clean it up.

16 min: Sandon Smith's high ball comes down to Fletcher Sharpe but the ball is knocked on and the Rabbitohs are out of trouble.

14 min: Latrell Mitchell and Dane Gagai having plenty to say to each other and a bit of push and shove with the Knights receiving the penalty. From the kick into touch, Gagai takes the first hit-up and Mitchell is there to meet him.

10 min: Cameron Murray with an error coming out of his own end and the Knights take over 40m out.

9 min: Dom Young again climbs high on a bomb chase and tries to tap it back but the ball goes forward and the Rabbitohs have a scrum.

5 min: Sandon Smith launches a high ball from 40m out, Latrell Mitchell gives Dom Young a free catch and the Knights winger makes him pay as he offloads for Jermaine McEwen to race away and score. Sandon Smith's conversion hits the upright. Knights 4-0

3 min: The Knights head to the left and Bradman Best flicks to Greg Marzhew who looks to power past Campbell Graham but the Souths winger bundles him into touch.

Ring that bell: Souths great Phil Blake has the honour of ringing the Legacy Bell as the Rabbitohs charge onto Allianz Stadium for their first final since 2022.

Late Mail

Rabbitohs: With Souths' season on the line, Dufty is back in the No.1 jersey for his first NRL finals appearance since 2018 with the Dragons against Souths. Jye Gray goes to the bench. Tallis Duncan returns after sitting out the Roosters game due to hamstring tightness so Adam Elliott reverts to the bench. 

Knights: The Knights line up 1-19 with no changes. Forward Francis Manuleleua has shown great powers of recovery to return just a fortnight after dislocating his shoulder. Dom Young and Tyson Frizell return from suspension and hooker Phoenix Crossland is good to go after cleanout surgery on his knee. Greg Marzhew needs one try to equal fellow winger Dom Young's club record of 25 tries in a season set in 2023. 

Numbers Game

• The Rabbitohs have won both of their finals matches played at Allianz Stadium.
• The Knights have won four of their last five games against the Rabbitohs.
• Rabbitohs centre Latrell Mitchell has an 80 per cent winning record in finals football.
• Knights winger Greg Marzhew requires one try to equal the club’s record for most tries in a season.
• Rabbitohs winger Alex Johnston has scored 17 tries in 11 games against the Knights.